Arts-in-Action has been on the frontline of major socio-cultural/socio-economic events within the Caribbean. One of the most important challenges to impact this unique space was the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Arts-in-Action’s participation in the fight to eradicate the spread of this disease, produced many arts-based workshops at the height of the campaign. The Unit’s main objectives were to sensitise/educate through the use of arts-based methodologies, the communities of Trinidad and Tobago in the first instance, then those within the wider English-speaking Caribbean. The flagship Educative Theatre workshop of this campaign was ‘Jus’ Once’ (Just Once).
About Arts-in-Action’s “Jus’ Once“
“Jus’ Once” was initiated in 1998 as a forum for dealing with the myths, misinformation and stigmas that were associated with HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support. Citing HIV/AIDS as one of the Caribbean’s more critical developmental challenges, an immediate, relevant and effective response was required. Three years later the project would find favour with the Canadian High Commission. Further to acquiring support for the project from this agency, Arts-in-Action set out to prove the efficacy of the “Jus’ Once” model in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS. In 100% of the cases, participants left the workshops with more information on HIV/AIDS than when they had entered.
In 2004 the Jus’ Once project was identified by the UNAIDS/UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) AIDS Competence Programme as one of the top ten “Techniques and Practices for Local Responses to HIV/AIDS”.
The objectives of Arts-in-Action’s ‘Jus’ Once’ were to:
- Create a non-confrontational, culturally specific, entertaining yet educational forum within which the issues of sexuality, sexual behaviours and practices can be openly discussed;
- Encourage its participating audiences to examine these behaviours with a view to appreciating how these may affect the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STI’s;
- Investigate, identify and develop personal and group strategies – that can be adopted as positive behaviour – or behaviour geared at reducing the spread of all sexually transmitted diseases; and
- Foster the development of support groups that can assist with peer counselling and continue communicating information on sex, HIV/AIDS and other STI’s to the participating groups and others in the school and/or community.
Prepared by Marvin George (former Artistic Director)
Today, workshops such as ‘Jus’ Once’ inform how the unit approaches critical information sharing practices and the dramaturging of sensitive issues for Educative Theatre engagement.